Hawke's Bay
The Hawke's Bay region has dry warm summers and mild winters making it ideal for growing grapes. The region's landscape is diverse with beaches, mountains, native bush, rivers, lakes and farmlands.
Today Hawke's Bay is known both nationally and internationally for its wine - the region has more than 40 vineyards, many of which produce award-winning wines.
The climate in Hawke's Bay see a winter temperature average of 15°C (59F) and a summer temperature range from between 20°C (68F) to 35°C (95F).
The area is known for its Art Deco architecture. Napier city was virtually destroyed in 1931 by an earthquake and was rebuilt in the style of the time - hence the art deco, stripped classical and Spanish mission look.
Hawke's Bay is known as the "Fruit Bowl of New Zealand", producing 50 percent of New Zealand's apple crop, as well as significant volumes of peaches, nectarines, pears, plums, apricots and kiwifruit. Olive plantations are another popular crop.
The region has many galleries and craft studios, these include potters, wood turners, 
general crafts and artists.
Industries in the region include tourism, vineyards, orchards, manufacturing, farming and cottage industries. The rich plains support extensive horticulture and the hill country, beef and sheep farming. Poorer hill land is often used for forestry and, on the plains, some of the less fertile areas are in wine grape production.
The Hawke's Bay region includes the cities and towns of Napier, Hastings, Waipukurau, Waipawa and Wairoa. The cities of Napier and Hastings are known as the twin cities - they are the main centres and share some facilities.
In the towns and cities of the Hawkes Bay there is a choice of modern homes, old villas, 1930's Art Deco architecture, apartments and town houses, many designed for outdoor living and many with rural or seascape vistas.
Property Sales Statistics
| Year | Median Price as at Dec |
Total Properties Sold |
Value of Total Properties Sold |
| 2010 | $275,100 | 1,973 | $605,574,983 |
| 2009 | $290,000 | 2,577 | $761,009,964 |
| 2008 | $265,000 | 2,073 | $634,027,355 |
| 2007 | $273,267 | 3,351 | $1,028,457,136 |
| 2006 | $255,000 | 3,684 | $1,061,463,000 |
| 2005 | $251,000 | 3,787 | $1,022,879,000 |
| 2004 | $225,000 | 3,691 | $859,700,000 |
| 2003 | $178,000 | 4,301 | $802,600,000 |
| 2002 | $156,250 | 3,516 | $558,600,000 |
| 2001 | $140,000 | 2,755 | $401,800,000 |
| 2000 | $125,000 | 2,464 | $345,565,924 |
| 1999 | $129,000 | 2,864 | $394,458,452 |
| 1998 | $124,000 | 2,420 | $316,941,811 |
| 1997 | $125,000 | 2,881 | $382,523,735 |
| 1996 | $121,000 | 2,616 | $346,644,772 |
| 1995 | $118,000 | 2,445 | $306,949,768 |
| 1994 | $125,000 | 2,937 | $356,583,580 |